Sciatica

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain and other symptoms that occur along the length of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve leaves the base of your spine, travels through each side of the buttocks, and down each leg. When your symptoms develop, however, they usually affect just one leg.

Your pain develops when the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated at the spine due to conditions such as:

• A herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs
• Spondylolisthesis (slipped disc)

These conditions develop over time, as age-related changes lead to problems like disc dehydration, degeneration, and arthritic changes.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

The primary symptom is pain that radiates from your lower back and travels down your leg. Although the severity of your pain may vary, it’s often an intense or severe pain that some patients describe as feeling like an electric shock. You may also experience tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness through the affected leg.

Prolonged sitting or standing, bending, lifting, and activities like vacuuming worsen sciatica. Most patients find that their pain feels better while lying down or walking.

How is sciatica treated?

Treatment for sciatica starts with conservative therapies, such as anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy or an exercise program to build strength and help relieve pain.

If your symptoms persist, Dr. Vujicic recommends an interventional pain treatment that targets the source of your pain. Interventional treatments for sciatica reduce nerve inflammation and stop the nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.

These are a few examples of the treatments available at V Pain Clinic:

Epidural steroid injections

Using real-time imaging to see the needle as it’s inserted, Dr. Vujicic precisely injects steroid medication into the epidural space of your spine. The injection is placed near the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals. The steroid medication significantly reduces inflammation in the nerves, which alleviates your pain.

Spinal cord stimulator

Dr. Vujicic implants a small generator under your skin that’s attached to thin, flexible wires that are placed along the spinal nerves in your lower back. When the generator is activated, the wires emit mild electrical impulses that block or mask pain signals

If you need relief from lower back and leg pain, call V Pain Clinic or book an appointment online.

We also offer Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation. Call us to book your appointment today.